Essential Subcortical Tracts in Language and Reading. 3D-Tractography for Clinical Practice and Anatomic Correlation with Intraoperative Subcortical Electrostimulation.

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and tractography provide the neurosurgeon with a valid 3D view of the white matter tracts of the brain for the presurgical planning of the treatment of lesions close to eloquent areas, this being one of the principal clinical applications of this technique. In this article, we describe through practical cases the anatomic relationships of white matter tracts that are essential for language and reading, based on DTI studies and the excellent anatomic correlation with the intraoperative subcortical map.

Clinical considerations and surgical approaches for low-grade gliomas in deep hemispheric locations: insular lesions.

Insula and paralimbic region represent a common location for gliomas in adulthood. However, limbic and paralimbic tumors are rare in children. Reports of pediatric insular tumors are scarce in literature, and most of them are included in adult's series, so their management and outcome can be outlined only after extracting data from these reports. Due to their predominantly low grade, they usually have a benign course for some time, what make them ideal candidates for total resection. However, their intricate location and spread to key areas, including the temporal lobe, make them a surgical challenge. The transsylvian route, with or without resection of the frontal and/or temporal operculae, which requires exposure of part or all of the insula is commonly selected for insular tumor approaches. Intraoperative functional mapping is a standard procedure for resection of central region tumors in adults. In children and young individuals, awake craniotomy is not always possible and surgical planning usually relay on functional and anatomical preoperative studies. The main goal when approaching an insular tumor is to achieve the largest extent of resection to increase overall patient survival while preserving the functional status, minimizing postoperative morbidity and increasing the quality of life. The extent of resection seems to be correlated also with the control of associated (and usually intractable) epilepsy.

Mapa cortical y subcortical del lenguaje. Correlación de la resonancia magnética funcional y tractografía en 3 T con la estimulación intraoperatoria cortical y subcortical en tumores cerebrales localizados en áreas elocuentes / Cortical and subcortical mapping of language areas: correlation of functional MRI and tractography in a 3 T scanner with intraoperative cortical and subcortical stimulation in patients with brain tumors located in eloquent areas

Objetivo. Describir, con estudios funcionales de activación y tractografía en una RM de 3 Teslas (3 T), las áreas corticales y vías subcorticales implicadas en el lenguaje, y mostrar la buena correlación de estos estudios funcionales con la estimulación directa cortical y subcortical intraoperatoria. Material y métodos. Presentamos una serie de 14 pacientes con lesiones focales cerebrales junto a áreas elocuentes. Todos los pacientes se evaluaron neuropsicológicamente antes y después de la cirugía, se estudiaron con RM con secuencias estructurales, de perfusión, espectroscopia, resonancia magnética funcional y del lenguaje y tractografía 3D, y se sometieron a un mapeo cortical de estimulación cortical y subcortical y resección de la lesión. Se hizo un control posquirúrgico a las 24 h. Resultados. La correlación funcional motora y del haz corticoespinal con el mapeo intraoperatorio cortical y subcortical motor fue completa. Las áreas elocuentes del lenguaje expresivo y del lenguaje receptivo presentaron una alta correlación con el mapeo cortical intraoperatorio en todos los casos menos 2, un glioma infiltrativo de alto grado y un glioma de bajo grado frontal. La tractografía 3D identificó los fascículos arcuato, frontoparietal, subcalloso, frontooccipital inferior y las radiaciones ópticas, lo que permitió marcar los límites de la resección. La correlación con el mapeo subcortical en la disposición anatómica de los fascículos con respecto a las lesiones, fue completa. Conclusión. La máxima resección tumoral sin déficits asociados es el mejor tratamiento posible ante un tumor cerebral, lo que resalta la necesidad de estudios funcionales de alta calidad en la planificación prequirúrgica (AU)

Objective: To describe the detection of cortical areas and subcortical pathways involved in language observed in MRI activation studies and tractography in a 3 T MRI scanner and to corre- late the findings of these functional studies with direct intraoperative cortical and subcortical stimulation. Material and methods: We present a series of 14 patients with focal brain tumors adjacent to eloquent brain areas. All patients underwent neuropsychological evaluation before and after surgery. All patients underwent MRI examination including structural sequences, perfusion imaging, spectroscopy, functional imaging to determine activation of motor and language areas, and 3D tractography. All patients underwent cortical mapping through cortical and subcortical stimulation during the operation to resect the tumor. Postoperative follow-up studies were done 24 hours after surgery. Results: The correlation of motor function and of the corticospinal tract determined by functional MRI and tractography with intraoperative mapping of cortical and subcortical motor areas was complete. The eloquent brain areas of language expression and reception were strongly correlated with intraoperative cortical mapping in all but two cases (a high grade infiltrating glioma and a low grade glioma located in the frontal lobe). 3D tractography identified the arcuate fasciculus, the lateral part of the superior longitudinal fasciculus, the subcallosal fasciculus, the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and the optic radiations, which made it possible to mark the limits of the resection. The correlation with the subcortical mapping of the anatomic arrangement of the fasciculi with respect to the lesions was complete. Conclusion: The best treatment for brain tumors is maximum resection without associated deficits, so high quality functional studies are necessary for preoperative planning (AU)

Cortical and subcortical mapping of language areas: correlation of functional MRI and tractography in a 3T scanner with intraoperative cortical and subcortical stimulation in patients with brain tumors located in eloquent areas.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the detection of cortical areas and subcortical pathways involved in language observed in MRI activation studies and tractography in a 3T MRI scanner and to correlate the findings of these functional studies with direct intraoperative cortical and subcortical stimulation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We present a series of 14 patients with focal brain tumors adjacent to eloquent brain areas. All patients underwent neuropsychological evaluation before and after surgery. All patients underwent MRI examination including structural sequences, perfusion imaging, spectroscopy, functional imaging to determine activation of motor and language areas, and 3D tractography. All patients underwent cortical mapping through cortical and subcortical stimulation during the operation to resect the tumor. Postoperative follow-up studies were done 24 hours after surgery. RESULTS: The correlation of motor function and of the corticospinal tract determined by functional MRI and tractography with intraoperative mapping of cortical and subcortical motor areas was complete. The eloquent brain areas of language expression and reception were strongly correlated with intraoperative cortical mapping in all but two cases (a high grade infiltrating glioma and a low grade glioma located in the frontal lobe). 3D tractography identified the arcuate fasciculus, the lateral part of the superior longitudinal fasciculus, the subcallosal fasciculus, the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and the optic radiations, which made it possible to mark the limits of the resection. The correlation with the subcortical mapping of the anatomic arrangement of the fasciculi with respect to the lesions was complete. CONCLUSION: The best treatment for brain tumors is maximum resection without associated deficits, so high quality functional studies are necessary for preoperative planning.

[Neurosurgical treatment in childhood dystonias and dyskinesias]. / Tratamientos neuroquirúrgicos en las distonías y discinesias de la infancia.

AIM: To present the post-surgery clinical results of deep brain stimulation of the internal globus pallidus (GPi) in a group of paediatric patients with primary and secondary dystonic-dyskinetic syndrome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between November 1996 and May 2006, 121 patients were submitted to interventions with bilateral deep brain stimulation of the GPi, 58 of whom were children (age range: 5-16 years); 35 were cases of primary dystonia, of which 17 were carriers of the DYT1 mutation and 10 were not. A further 8 cases were myoclonic dystonias, 3 of whom presented the DYT11 mutation. With regard to the secondary dystonias, 4 were carriers of PKAN (pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration) syndrome and 9 were cases of post-anoxic encephalopathies. RESULTS: Percentage improvements were as follows: in the case of DYT1+ primary dystonias, 80% at one year maintained at 3 years; in cases of DYT1-, 70% at one year maintained at 3 years, and in the myoclonic dystonias, 50% at one year and 85% at 3 years. In the group of patients with secondary dystonias due to post-anoxic encephalopathies, we found an improvement of 30% at one year and 40% at 3 years; in the group with PKAN syndrome, the figures were 60% at one year and 50% at two years. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment involving bilateral deep brain stimulation of the GPi nuclei in childhood cases of generalised dystonias is highly effective, the best prognoses being those offered by the group with primary dystonias and especially those related to the DYT1 mutation. Treatment also proved to be effective in the case of secondary dystonias, although with lower degrees of improvement.

Tratamientos neuroquirúrgicos en las distonías y discinesias de la infancia / Neurosurgical treatment in childhood dystonias and dyskinesias

Objetivo. Presentar los resultados clínicos poscirugíade estimulación cerebral profunda del globo pálido interno (Gpi)en un grupo de enfermos pediátricos con síndrome distonodiscinéticoprimario y secundario. Pacientes y métodos. Desde noviembrede 1996 hasta mayo de 2006 se operaron con estimulación cerebralprofunda del Gpi, de forma bilateral, 121 enfermos, de los cuales58 eran niños (rango de edad: 5-16 años): 35 eran distonías primarias,de los que 17 eran portadores de la mutación DYT1, 10 no y 8eran distonías mioclónicas, tres de ellas con la mutación DYT11.En cuanto a las distonías secundarias, 4 eran portadores del síndromePKAN (pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration) y9 eran encefalopatías postanóxicas. Resultados. La mejoría porcentualfue la siguiente: en el caso de las distonías primariasDYT1+, 80% al año mantenida a los 3 años; en los DYT1–, 70% alaño mantenida a los 3 años, y en las distonías mioclónicas, 50%al año y 85% a los 3 años. En el grupo de enfermos con distoníassecundarias por encefalopatías postanoxicas encontramos una mejoríadel 30% al año y 40% a los 3 años, y en el grupo con síndromePKAN, 60% al año y 50% a los dos años. Conclusiones. El tratamientopor estimulación cerebral profunda bilateral de los núcleosdel Gpi en los casos de distonías generalizadas de la infanciaes altamente eficaz, siendo el grupo de las distonías primarias y especialmentelas relacionadas con la mutación DYT1 las de mejorpronóstico. En el caso de las distonías secundarias, la eficaciatambién se ha probado, aunque con grados de mejoría inferiores

Aim. To present the post-surgery clinical results of deep brain stimulation of the internal globus pallidus (GPi) ina group of paediatric patients with primary and secondary dystonic-dyskinetic syndrome. Patients and methods. BetweenNovember 1996 and May 2006, 121 patients were submitted to interventions with bilateral deep brain stimulation of the GPi,58 of whom were children (age range: 5-16 years); 35 were cases of primary dystonia, of which 17 were carriers of the DYT1mutation and 10 were not. A further 8 cases were myoclonic dystonias, 3 of whom presented the DYT11 mutation. With regardto the secondary dystonias, 4 were carriers of PKAN (pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration) syndrome and 9were cases of post-anoxic encephalopathies. Results. Percentage improvements were as follows: in the case of DYT1+primary dystonias, 80% at one year maintained at 3 years; in cases of DYT1–, 70% at one year maintained at 3 years, and inthe myoclonic dystonias, 50% at one year and 85% at 3 years. In the group of patients with secondary dystonias due to postanoxicencephalopathies, we found an improvement of 30% at one year and 40% at 3 years; in the group with PKAN syndrome,the figures were 60% at one year and 50% at two years. Conclusions. Treatment involving bilateral deep brain stimulation ofthe GPi nuclei in childhood cases of generalised dystonias is highly effective, the best prognoses being those offered by thegroup with primary dystonias and especially those related to the DYT1 mutation. Treatment also proved to be effective in thecase of secondary dystonias, although with lower degrees of improvement

[Aneurysmal bone cyst of the sphenoid sinus]. / Quiste óseo aneurismático del seno esfenoidal. A propósito de un caso

Aneurysmal bone cyst is an uncommon lesion that occurs mainly in long bones and vertebrae, being the location in the sphenoid sinus extremely rare. Its origin is unknown, but it can be considered as a vascular phenomenon secondary to a primary lesion. Other primary diseases that may be associated to aneurysmal bone cyst are polyostotic fibrous dysplasia and giant-cell tumors. We report the case of a patient with an aneurysmal bone cyst in the sphenoid sinus causing vision dysfunction.

Quiste óseo aneurismático del seno esfenoidal. A propósito de un caso / Aneurysmal bone cyst of the sphenoid sinus

El quiste óseo aneurismático es una patología infrecuente que asienta generalmente en las metáfisis de huesos largos y vértebras. La afectación del seno esfenoidal es excepcional. Su origen se encuentra aún por definir, pero podemos considerarlos como un fenómeno vascular secundario a una lesión del hueso subyacente. Puede asociarse a otras enfermedades, presentes de forma metacrónica o sincrónica en distintas localizaciones de un mismo sujeto, como la displasia fibrosa poliostótica o los tumores de células gigantes. En este artículo se expone el caso de un paciente que presenta un quiste óseo aneurismático en el seno esfenoidal y alteración de la visión

Aneurysmal bone cyst is an uncommon lesion that occurs mainly in long bones and vertebrae, being the location in the sphenoid sinus extremely rare. Its origin is unknown, but it can be considered as a vascular phenomenon secondary to a primary lesion. Other primary diseases that may be associated to aneurysmal bone cyst are polyostotic fibrous dysplasia and giant-cell tumors. We report the case of a patient with an aneurysmal bone cyst in the sphenoid sinus causing vision dysfunction

The role of dominant striatum in language: a study using intraoperative electrical stimulations.

BACKGROUND: The role of the striatum in language remains poorly understood. Intraoperative electrical stimulation during surgery for tumours involving the caudate nucleus or putamen in the dominant hemisphere might be illuminating. OBJECTIVES: To study the role of these structures in language, with the aim of avoiding postoperative definitive aphasia. METHODS: 11 patients with cortico-subcortical low grade gliomas were operated on while awake, and striatal functional mapping was done. Intraoperative direct electrical stimulation was used while the patients carried out motor and naming tasks during the resection. RESULTS: In five cases of glioma involving the dominant putamen, stimulations induced anarthria, while in six cases of glioma involving the dominant caudate, stimulations elicited perseveration. There was no motor effect. The striatum was systematically preserved. Postoperatively, all patients except one had transient dysphasia which resolved within three months. CONCLUSIONS: There appear to be two separate basal ganglia systems in language, one mediated by the putamen which might have a motor role, and one by the caudate which might have a role in cognitive control. These findings could have implications for surgical strategy in lesions involving the dominant striatum.